Aircraft



July-9, 1946- Y H. K. GRowALD 2,403,595*

AIRCRAFT FiledyDec. 51, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VH. K. GROWALD July AIRCRAFT Filed. Dec. 51, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 'K Je U- July 9, 41946- H. K. GRowALD 2,403,595

' AIRCRAFT Filed nec'. 51, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 9, 1946 Application December 3l, 1942, Serial No.1470,843

1 'I'he invention relates to aircraft, and more particularly to aircraft provided with airtight compartments which are adapted to be pressurized or supercharged when flying at high alti-v Another object of the invention is to provide light-weight construction for an aircraft communication conduit.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a communication conduit between pressurized com- 5 form.

partments which comprises a iiexible tubular member and a carriage for transporting a load through the conduit and from one compartment y to the other.

I tures which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly deiined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

I n the drawings:

14 Claims. (Cl. 244-118) 2, Fig. l is a plan of an airplane embodying-the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 o'f Fig. l. Fig. 3 is'a side elevation of the conduit.

tudes- 5 Fig. 4 is a section of the conduit taken on une such aircraft it is desirable to provide pres- 4 4 of Fig. 3. surizable compartments in different. portions of Fig.5 is a perspective of the flexible section of the body or fuselage, for example, a front cabin the conduit. for the pilot. C0-P11013, navigator and other com- Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective of a portion of mand personnel, and a rear cabin or compartl0 the conduit. I

ment for other membersof the crew, with an in- Fig. 'l is a vertical section through one end portermediate space or 'compartment for carrying tion of the conduit. bombs or other cargo which does not require pres- Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing one of the surizing or supercharglng. Insueh aircraft it' is fasteners for the iiexible section. deslrabl t0 Provide for the transfer ofl personnel 15 Fig. 9 is a sectional perspective showing a seam or supplies between the pressurized compartments in the ilexible section of the conduit. during travel at high altitude. Without IOSS of Fig. 10 is a transverse section of another form pressure in these compartments. 'It .is also desirof the invention. able to provide a communicating conduit between Fig. 11 is a section taken on line li-ii of Fig. the fore and aft pressurized compartments which, 2 10 illustrating one end portion of the conduit. when the airplane is being serviced on the ground, The invention is exempliiied as applied to an will occupy the minimum space in order to avoid airplane comprising a body or fuselage a; a pilot's interference with loading and such operations, i cabin or compartment b in front of a bulkhead and a structure which forms a conduit which is c; a compartment d at the rear of bulkhead e; a light in Weight# 25 bay or compartment f between the bulkheads c One object oi the invention is to provide, in airand e; and a conduit gbetween the compartments craft having pressurizable compartmentsl which b and d. The compartments b and d for the crew are separated from each other, a'communicating are sealed so they can be pressurized or superconduit which extends between said compart- 1 o charged as, vand by any suitable means. Well ments and through the intermediate non-presknown in the art. The conduit g provides a comsurized area. in the fuselage, and comprises a flex- 'municating passage between the pressurized comible section which is collapsible when it is not in partments b and d and is open to the pressure in use, and can be readily expanded for use when said compartments. The compartment f between the compartments are pressurized. compartments b and d usually contains bomb Another object of the invention is to' provide a 3" racks, hoisting and loading equipment 0r other conduit for this purpose which has a lower rigid mechanisms, and havinglarge doors or hatches, or metallic section which functions as a platform therefore is not adapted for pressurization. or floor for anexible collapsible section between The conduit a comprises a lower rigid or methe pressurized compartments. 40 tallic section which is adapted to serve as a door or platform over which a person can pass net tween the pressurized compartments b and d and a flexible member which forms a collapsible closure for the portion of the passage above the plat- The conduit g extends longitudinally between the bulkheads c and e, preferably adjacent one side of the fuselage about and slightly above the level of the usual door in the cabin b. This locates the conduit where it willoffer minimum interference with operations in the. intermediate space l. The conduit comprises a substantially 'rigid arcuate lower section 2l of sheet metal and a circumferentially extending flexible member 3l lwhicl'iris-formed of thin Ahighly flexible material,

Vvsuch as impregnated or rubberized fabric or other `ber and the ring 2|.

`c `and e. The adjacent longitudinal margins of flexible member 3| and plates 24 and 26 are secured together by airtight joints. For this purpose, each longitudinal margin of flexible member 3| is looped around a reinforcing cord or rope 31 and lapped upon itself to form a marginal portion of double thickness of material. marginal portion fits between the longitudinal margins of plates 24 and 26. Rivets 38 extend through said plates and the marginal portion and double thickness of the member 3| outwardly of the cord 31 to form a sealed or airtight closure between the lapped longitudinal margins of the flexible and rigid sections of the conduit.

Each end f the flexible and rigid sections of the conduit is secured to a ring 2| of angular cross-section. which is secured by bolts 2z to one of the bulkheads c, e. Each ring 2| has a vertical ange 2|a through which the bolts 22 pass.

This I of ribs or arched members 21 are shaped to extend circumferentially around the flexible member 3| when it is extended and to support said member in approximately cylindrical contour when not pressurized. Ribs 21 are U-shaped in cross section. Each of the lower ends of ribs 21 is secured by screws 29 to a gusset plate 28, which is secured by some of the rivets 38 to the plates 24, 2G and the lower margins of the flexible section 3|. In this manner these ribs are fixedly supported from the lower fixed section of the conduit.

The flexible member 3| is adapted to be held to approximately cylindrical contour from the ribs 21 by straps or tabs 44 which are adapted to be lapped around ribs 21 when'the conduit is to be and is pressurized, and to be disconnected from the ribs when it is desired to collapse the flexible memberl 3| Vso that the space occupied by it when v inflated will be rendered available so far as possible for operations in the compartment f. Each strap 44 has one of its ends suitably secured, as at 35, to the fabric of member 3| and is adapted to extend around the outside of a ring 21. Each strap is provided at its free end with a member 48 of a snap-fastener. 'The other member 41 of each snap-fastener is secured to the fabric of member 3|. The inside of member 41-fis covered with rubberized fabric 48 to form an airtight A n packing ring or gasket 25 of rubber or other suitable packing is clampedbetween each flange 2|l and one of the bulkheads to form airtight seals between the rings and the bulkheads. Each ring 2| has a horizontal flange 2|b to which the ends of the flexible and rigid sections of the conduit are secured.

Bottom-plate 24 is arcuate conformably to the outer periphery of flange 2|b and its ends underlie the flanges 2 |h on the rings 2|. The end portions of the reinforcing plate 26 also underlie the end-portions of plate 24 and the flanges 2lb of one of the rings 2|. Rivets 24|'L extend through flanges 2 l and plates 24 and 26 so that said plates will be supported from the rings 2|. An elastic sealing strip 24h between the outer periphery of flange 2|b and the plate 24 provides an airtight seal between the ring 26 and the plate 24.

Each end of the flexible member 3| is folded around a reinforcing cord or rope 38 and is overlapped as at 3| toprovlde a portion of double thickness of material which extends circumi eren-L tially around the outer peripheryof the flange 2lb. A flat band 39 extends around each end portion of the flexible member 3| which isseated on a flange 2|, and inwardly of the reinforcing cord 36. Rivets which extend through bands 33, the double thickness of material in member 3|, and the horizontal flanges 2|b of a ring 2|, secure the ends of the flexible member to the rings 2|, respectively. AThe rubberized material in member 3| seals the joint between said mem- A reinforcing and sealing strip 3|d is cemented around the margin of the ildelI portion 3|e of the exible material of sec- The flexible member 3|, which must be of considerable length to cross the span between the bulkheads c and e, is usually made up of lengths of fabric 3 |V which are joined together by airtight Joints which are formed by overlapping and stitching and/or cementing together the sheets as at 3|", and cementing rubberized strips 3|b over the seams, as illustrated in Fig. 9. A series seal between the member 41 of the snap-fastener and the fabric of member 3|. When it is desired to j'collapse the fabric of member 3| the straps 44 will be disconnected at the snap-fasteners so that member 3| will be free to collapse and rest contour by the straps 44, which will support the member between its ends, from the ribs 21. The supereharge pressure in said compartments will hold the flexible member extended and a person can readily pass through the conduit supported by the plate 24 when it is desired to pass from one of the pressurized compartments to the other. When said compartments are not pressurized and the conduit is not to be used. the straps 44 can be vdetached at fasteners 46, 41 so that the flexible -member between its ends can sag into folds resting on the bottom plate 2'4, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 comprises a tubular member 3| of thin flexible material, the ends of which are secured and sealed to horizontal flanges 2|d of end rings 2|' substantially in the same manner as previously described. The longitudinal margins of the tubular member are reinforced as before described, disposed at the upper portion of the tube, and lapped over and secured to flanges 50 of a channel-member 5I which extends longitudinally and continuously between the end rings 2| and is welded or otherwise fixed to vertical flanges on said rings. A beam 52, having channels in its sides and of H cross-section has its top flange fixedly secured to the top wall of channel-member 5| and forms a supporting monorail for a portable carriage adapted to transport a passenger or other load longitudinally through the communicatfon tube. This carriage comprises pair of wheels 53 adapted to travel in the channels in the sides of beam 52 and on the lower flanges of tubular member 3|', and a platform or support 56 secured on the lower inturned ends of bars 55. In this construction, the member 5| and beam 52 provide a rigid overhead support from which the carriage is suspended. vIn the use of this form o! the invention, the passenger or load is carried on the platform 56 and the carriage may be shifted manually by the passenger or may -be pulled through the conduit by ya rope or cable tied to the carriage. Ribs 51 extend circumferentially aroundthe member 3|" of flexible material and are detachably secured thereto by straps 5 8 provided with snap fasteners and of the construction previously described, for supporting the tubular member when it is pressurized. This form of the invention exemplifies one in which a portable load carrying platform or carriage is supported by a rigid member for travel through the conduit and between compartments to which the conduit is connected.

The conduit exemplifies a construction which is lighter in weight than a metallic tube. In the event of a puncture, the exible member 3| can be easily repaired by a rubber patch, while a metallic tube presents diiculty in making such a repair. When the ilexible member is collapsed,

it oiers the minimum interference with operations between the bay which is not pressurized.

The invention is not to be understood as' restricted to the details s'et forth, since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible member of iiexible material, and airtight joints connecting the ends of the exible member to said bulkheads, respectively. said member being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized.

2. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which arek spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and occupancy by personnel; and a tubularconduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible member of flexible material, airtight joints connecting the ends of the iiexible member to said bulkheads, respectively, said member being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized, and means detachable from Aand for holding the ilexible member expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

3. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude dying and occupancy by personnel; anda tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, said conduit including a collapsible section of -compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material and a substantially rigid floor section, airtight joints connecting the ends of the iexible` section to said bulkheads, respectively,

said ilexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends and over the iioor section to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized, and means detachable from and for holding the iiexible section expanded when the conduit'is not pressurized.

5. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for` compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude ying and "occu-v pancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, said conduit including a collapsible section of iiexible material, a substantially rigid oor-section, and airtight joints connecting the ends of the lexibe section to said bulkheads, respectively, said iiexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends and over the floor-section to reduce the area in the spacebetween the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized and having its side margins sealed to the floor-section.

6. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for campartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude iiying and occu` pancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, said conduit including a collapsible section of exible material; a substantially rigid floor-sec-I tion, airtight joints connecting the ends of the iiexible section to said bulkheads, respectively, l

said ilexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends and over the door-section 'to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized and having its side margins sealed to the licor-section; and means fordetachably holding the exible section' expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

'7. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and ada-pted to be pressurized for altitude ying and occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, said conduit including a collapsible section of exible material, a substantially rigid floor-section, airtight joints connecting the ends of the iiexible section to said bulkheads, respectively, said flexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized and having its side margins sealed to the floor-section; substantially rigid ribs secured to the door-section and extending around the flexible section; and means for detachably holding the flexible section expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

8. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads of said compartments, saidconduit including a collapsible member of flexible material,` airtight joints connecting the ends of the flexible member to said bulkheads, respectively, said member being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends to reduce the areay in the space between the bulkheads cccupiedby the conduit when it is not pressurized, substantially rigid ribs extending around the flexible memberl and means between the ribs and the flexible member for holding said member expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

9. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and for occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material, a substantially rigid floor-section having its side margins sealed to the side margins of the flexible section, and rings at the ends of the conduit and secured to the bulkheads, means for sealing the ends of the flexible-section to and supporting the ends of the floor-section on said rings, said flexible section. being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate said ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occu pied by the conduit when it is not pressurized.

10. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and for occupancy by personnel; and a, tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, saidconduit including 4a collapsible section of flexible material,y a substantially rigid floor-section having its side margins sealed to the side margins of the flexible section, rings at the ends of the conduit and secured to the bulkheads, means for sealing the ends of the ilexible section to and supporting the ends of the floor-section on said rings, said flexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate its ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized, substantially rigid ribs extending around the flexible section and supported n the floor-section, and means between the ribs and the flexible section for detachably holding the flexible section expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

1l. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and for occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material, a floor-section of arcuate cross-section having its side margins sealed to the side margins of l the exible section, means for sealing the ends of the flexible section to and supporting the ends of the door-section on said bulkheads, said flex- -ible section being collapsible transverselyy of the conduit intermediate its ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by `the conduit when it is not pressurized, and means for detachably holding the flexible section expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

12. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and for occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material, a floor-section of arcuate cross-section having its side margins sealed to the side margins of the flexible lsection, .including a corrugated re-inforcement, means for sealing the ends of th'e'flexl tending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material, a substantially rigid overhead member extending between the bulkheads and provided with a rail for supporting a portable carriage-for transporting a 1oad longitudinally through the conduit, and means for sealing the ends of the flexible section to the bulkheads and its longitudinal margins to the overhead member, said flexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate its ends to reduce the area in the space between the bulkheads occupied by thev conduit when it is not pressurized.

14. An airplane comprising: rigid bulkheads for compartments which are spaced apart and adapted to be pressurized for altitude flying and for occupancy by personnel; and a tubular conduit for transportation of loads or personnel'extending between the bulkheads, said conduit including a collapsible section of flexible material,

a substantially rigid overhead member extending between the bulkheads and provided with a rail for supporting a portable carriage for transporting a, load longtudinally through thecondvuit, means for sealing the ends of the flexible section to the bulkheads and its longitudinal margins to the overhead member, said ilexible section being collapsible transversely of the conduit intermediate its ends to reduce the area. in the space between the bulkheads occupied by the conduit when it is not pressurized, and means for detachably holding the flexible section expanded when the conduit is not pressurized.

HENRY K. GROWALD, 

